Assassination of Henry IV
| Assassination of Henry IV | |
|---|---|
| Location | Paris, France |
| Date | 14 May 1610 |
| Target | Henry IV |
Attack type | Assassination |
| Weapons | knife |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Motive | Fanaticism |
| Convicted | François Ravaillac |
The assassination of Henry IV of France on May 14, 1610, in Paris was one of the most momentous assassinations in French history. The king, founder of the House of Bourbon on the French throne and known as Good King Henry, fell victim to an assassination attempt by the fanatical Catholic assassin François Ravaillac. The assassination took place during a politically tense period marked by religious conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots, as well as foreign policy tensions in Europe. Henry's death triggered a deep crisis in the French kingdom and had far-reaching consequences for the further development of France and Europe.